This is the morning skills group I did at the Edge School for Athletes to pay my son's tuition and hockey fee. These boy's are 12-14 and three of them made the NHL. Jeff Hill was the head coach of the Varsity team and I had him do the checking instruction while I took the video. Jeff was captain of Michigan Tech.

Key Points:Approach at the back shoulder. Body on body and stick on the puck. Follow from about a half stick length.

Description:1. Players line up behind the hash marks.2. Offensive player carry the puck behind the net.3. Defensive player follow a half stick length behind.4. Defensive player steer the player, angle and finish with stick on the puck and body on body.5. Progress from slow and focusing on the steer and angle, then faster, then the offensive player tries to get out of the zone and the defensive player tries to get the puck and score.6. Practice from each side.

Below is a video with Jeff Hill instructing U13 players at the Edge School for athletes on checking skills.

Checkers create an angle on puck carrier and take away their time and space with body on body and stick on the puck.

Description:

1. D200 lineup outside blue line.2. On whistle carry the puck behind the net and checkers leave and create good angles. 3. Play 20-30 seconds.4. Puck carrier can try to come out short side. 5. Keep score. Play to a certain score and losing team do something like push ups. Play a short series.

This is a good routine to use at the start of practice instead of just skating around the ice aimlessly. Work for 10 min. and get in a lot of reps.-----------------------------------------------B5 Murdoch Breakout Routine A and B - College F

D shoulder check on the way to the puck.Forwards funnel through middle lane and watch puck before swinging up the boards.

Wings and DefenseA. Coach shoots puck in and D gets the puck and passes to the wing who times his skating from inside to outside. D to W back to D and up to wing. Then repeat on the other side.B. Coach shoots the puck in and D skates back to get in while the wing times his skating from the middle to the outside lane.The D drives the back of the net and stops and goes out the same direction making a counter pass to the wing, who returns the pass and gets another pass.Repeat on the other side.

TomM

Key Points:Defenseman Shoulder check on the way to read the forechecking pressure.Forwards read the play from the middle lane and time it so they are skating up the boards for the pass. If the forechecker follows you behind use the reverse.

Description:C. Coach dumps the puck in and the D gets in and drive skates hard to the back of the net and up the ice between the dots. Pass D to W to D to W.

D. Coach dumps the puck in and the D gets it and drive skates to the back of the net to draw the forechecker then passes back off the boards to the other D who has called reverse from the front of the net. D2 passes to W to D2 to W and out.

Key Points:On all of these both wingers can go and time their skating to be available for the pass. Add thecentreman to do 5-0 full ice reps.

Description:

E. Coach dumps the puck in D1 gets it, D2 skates to the front of the net and calls for the pass D to D. Both wings watch the puck from the middle zone and time their skating to be available for the pass. D1 behind to D2 to F1 to D2 to F2 and out. try to pass to all three forwards and back to D twice. i.e. D to C to D to F2 to F1.

F. Coach calls the breakout (i.e. reverse) and all 5 breakout and try to score at the other end.Practice all of the options doing about 2 reps each line of 5.

Example:At my last nights practice I had groups of 5 in the middle and they did from A-F as a 5-0, I dumped the puck in one side and then the other and they passed back to me when they got over the blueline. My asst did the same thing on the other side of the redline.

This booklet by PAUL WILLETT was posted on the old bulletin board. It is a great starter for using SAG's in practice.

It is very difficult to teach transitioning from; 1 puck carrier to 2 pass receiver or 3 first checker or 4 defending away from the puck if you don't use games during practice.

If you simply use drills there is no higher thinking and problem solving required. The coach has already given the What, Where, When and How. The player doesn't need to solve these problems. There usually is no Why. So following instructions and skills vs no pressure are learned. Even when situations are practices like a 2-1 the player knows beforehand that it is a 2-1 and only needs good technique and mechanics, which are very important but not the ideal way to develop the Complete Player.

So transitioning between roles and problem solving are the main reasons for using games. The tacit learning is really how we learn to do most things. Other benefits are the fitness from efficient use of the ice and the F word which I have gotten in a lot of trouble for using over the last 30 years. I will say it. FUN

Key Points:Players come all the way over the blueline between reps. You can have one or two lines doing reps at each end.

Description:1. Coach shoots the puck into the zone and 5 players follow for a breakout.2. When over the blueline pass back to the coach. Coach shoots on both sides so each D gets a rep.3. Start with breakouts with D passing to F's.a. tight turn and upb. Wheel around net and up.c. Counter to back of net, stop and out original side.d. Boards-reverse to the strong side wing.

Progress to D to D passes first then to the F's.e. Reverse D to D and up.f. Bank - D to D off boards behind

Key Points:On the regroup fill the 3 lanes facing the puck. Always give an outlet on the strong side.

Description:1. Attack 3-2 with passive support above circles.2. During play or on the coaches whistle pass to support.3. Attacking D follow the attack in the neutral zone making a 5-2.4. Before crossing blue line or on the coach’s whistle regroup in neutral zone.5. Enter the offensive zone 3 on 2 and repeat with new support.

Alternative: This becomes a transition game if only one puck is used and the defenders pass to the players giving passive support. The players can decide when to regroup or the coach can whistle.

This is a drill the Russian Jursinov used. You can do 2-1 and 2-2 as well.------------------------------------------------

C6 Jursinov 1-1's from the Corner - RB Pro

Key PointsStay D side stick on the puck, body on body and keep a tight gap within a stick length.

Description:1-1's from the corner

1. Defender 1 skate to the opposite corner and defend vs attacking player 2.2. On the whistle player 2 now skates to the opposite corner and defends vs player 3.3. Player 3 will try to score and then defend vs player 4 and continue this flow.

This is a great skating and puck handling warm up drill. Many variations can be used with the puck or in skating tasks. -----------------------------------B6 Crossover Skating and Skills - U18 F

Key PointsDo a different skill in each zone. Keep the feet moving it is crossover in large #8's and not tight turns. You can also do as a B6 and start out of opposite corners.

Description:Cross Overs and SkillsDo figure 8's in each zone.1. Quick hands and quick feet fwd2. Skate backwards3. Face the far end transition skate4. Carry puck using only the forehand5. Use only the backhandFollow shot for a rebound.6. One legged skull turns

Key Points:Sometimes you have many goalies. Here is a game that you can use up to 3 nets and work on the offensive and defensive principles and skills of 1-1, 2-1, 1-2, 2-2. I have used this formation with up to 4 nets in hockey schools, team tryouts and situations like I have now with 3 goalies.

Description:Players line up along the boards with the defensive teams player being first in line and the offensive player next.

1. Offensive player attacks 1-1 vs the defensive player.2. New defensive player follows the attack and gives support (either active or passive depending on how long you want the original 1-1 to last)3. On a turnover or a goal the supporting defender gets a pass or takes the puck out of the zone and turns back at the red line and attacks vs the original attacker. When the puck is out of the zone the original defender rests at the end of the line.4. When the new attacker crosses the defender gets support from a teammate at the front of the line. Repeat.

This is a great game to progress from instructing how to play a defensive or offensive 1-1 and then putting it into a game situation. The rotation can even be used to practice team play with larger numbers when you only have a half ice practice. . i.e. a 3-2 and 3 new players support, one goes low to make it a 3-3 low while the other two are passive at the top of the circles. Breakout and turn back vs the original attacker 3-3 and have 2 support, next 3 support.

Key PointsKeep 2 hands on the stick and keep the feet moving. Hit the net.

B2 Transition Skate Shooting1. Lineup on blue lines.2. Skate to top of circle, back to blue, top of circle and shoot.3. Next player leave when the first is going backward.4. Each player have 3 or 4 pucks and keep shooting until the are all gone.

Key Points:This is a great timing drill with good flow for early in the practice. Pass hard and get your top hand away from your body. Call for the pass. Give your stick and skates as a target.

Description:

1. Skate to the top of the circle and pass.2. Continue and get a pass from the other end.3. 2-0 first player passes and swings wide and second player skates into the middle lane. Pass to the player in the middle.4. Player in the middle one touch the puck up to the wide man. Stay onside.5. Shoot and go for the rebound.6. On the 3-0 the third player goes up the boards and enters as the high man. Add a trailer pass to the high man as the first shot.

Key Points:Quick feet, face the puck. This is a drill that Stanislav Barda from the Czech Republic used a lot.

Description:1. F get a pass from a F in the circle.2. F skate and pass to D1.3. D1 pivot and make outlet pass to F4. F skate and pass to D25. D2 slide hard to middle 6. D2 pass to F7. F attack 1-1 vs D19. Same on other side vs other net8. D2 replaces D1; D3 replaces D2

Key Points: Make sure the players cross the red line before turning or there will be collisions. Also skate along the red line before turning so the goalie has time for the next shot. Hit the net.

Description:Players are in all 4 corners of the rink. 1. 3 players from diagonal corners leave on the coaches whistle.2. Skate along the boards and cros the red line.3. First player go straight and shoot from the lane. Second player skate parallel to the red line and turn into the centre lane and shoot from just over the blueline. Third player skate to the far lane before turning and taking a shot.4. Follow the shot and screen or tip from the front tof the net.

The pdf will show a progression and this drill is the first step. The important thing is to cross the red line before skating across to the lane you are shooting from. The video shows step three of the progression with shots, passes, zig-zags first.

Key Points:Checker approach at the back shoulder. Body on body and stick on the puck. Follow from about a half stick length.

Description:1. Players line up behind the hash marks.2. Offensive player carry the puck behind the net.3. Defensive player follow a half stick length behind.4. Defensive player steer the player, angle and finish with stick on the puck and body on body.5. Progress from slow and focusing on the steer and angle, then faster, then the offensive player tries to get out of the zone and the defensive player tries to get the puck and score.6. Practice from each side.

Key Points:Start practice with mild skating using long strides to dynamically warm up the muscles. Follow with puck and passing skills. Allow the goalie to do crease skating and take some shots to areas before shooting to score. This is a common warm up routine for high level teams.

Description:1.Skate and stretch in the outside lanes followed by puck skills.2. Partner passing or puckhandling down the centre. Progress to finishing with a shot.3. Progress to hard on one side only so there is recovery.

DT400 Transition Game of Low Battles with Point Support 1-1 to 3-3 - College M

Key Points:Great game to practice cycling, going to the net, screening, tipping, point shots, shot pass, one timers on offense. On defense you have the low zone coverage and communication skills. As well as individual techniques like sealing the stick to the outside, tying up sticks, boxing out, switching, all from the defensive side.

Description:

1. One team is lined up behind each faceoff dot. From one to tree players leave at a time.

2. The next player in line plays the joker at the point and must pass or shoot within a second. Defenders do not check the joker as he canâ€™t go in and score.

3. The coach dumps the puck in or shoots on net and the teams race for the puck. Whoever gets the puck can shoot right away.

4. When the defending team gets the puck they must pass to their joker at the point to transition to offense.

5. If the puck is shot out of the zone the coach passes to the non offending joker.

6. Play 20-30 and on the whistle the players pass to the coach and skate hard out of the zone before the coach shoots a new puck in.

Key Points:Face the puck always and make hard passes. Done from both sides

Description:a. #1's leave from diagonal corners and get a pass from #2 and pass back.b. 1 get a new puck from 2 in diagonal corner.c. 1's now pass to 3's and pivot facing the puck for a return pass.d. 1's attack and shoot at far ends.e. 3's leave after passing and exchange pucks with 4's to repeat from other side.

Technicoach is the drills program that I use for diagrams and to export them I save them as jpg files. A coach could use this template with the drills and games I have posted or that they have created and make a practice plan to send to the team or to print out.

I will attach it here.

I save my practices as pdf files and send them to my asst. coaches. I am attaching an example of this as well. You can paste in the descriptions and diagrams from pdf's of drills and practices.

Simply copy and paste diagrams and descritions and then save the under another name and you keep the original template. This is a Great Planning Tool.

Key Points:Transition from one role to another. Jokers can only hold the puck 1-2".

Description:1. D200 Cross Ice game extra players wait outside the blue line.2. Play 20-30" shifts3. Either coaches or players be the joker or you can have all of the players around the playing area and they are jokers.4. Pass to the joker when you regain the puck.-you can vary joker rules5. On whistle either pass to side coach or the joker coach or better pass to your teammate coming on and become a joker.

Key Points:Swedish regional coach Anders Ottosom runs a practice with U13 boy's before our college women's game in Stockholm. Eye contact and pass with a push of the bottom hand and pull with the top hand. The puck rotates from the heel to the toe and hands away from the body. This same motion is used when shooting. Receiving a pass is the opposite motion to absorb the puck.

Description:1. Pass one puck around the circle first with an emphasis on good technique and eye contact.2. Pass and receive the puck quickly using good technique and eye contact.3. Pass 2 pucks with good technique.4. Coach work with goalies at the far end.*This can progress to pass and follow the pass or all players moving around the circle.

Key Points:The 2 forwards forecheck in a tandem. Left and right back keep puck ahead of themMiddle back support from behind.

Description:In the 1-3-1 the two forwards forecheck one at a time. When the puck is moved away from them the first checker return to the middle and the second forward force the play wide.

The strong side halfback keep the puck in front of him the weak side halfback cover the attacking forward in the wide lane.

Middle back support from behind on the strong side ; don't let any attacker behind him.Force the play to the wide lane in the nzone and overload with the middle back standing up and the F giving back pressure

1. One team shoots on one net and the opponent shoots at the other net.2. On transition to offense there must be at least 2 passes before shooting.3. If the puck goes outside the blue line the other team gets possession.4. With lots of players the extra's act as jokersand time shifts.5. With only one goalie he must defend both goals.

A couple of days ago I asked Bob Murdoch, former two time Stanley Cup winning player and Coach of the Year in the NHL and Germany if he would discuss his thought on specialty teams with me. Last year I was coaching with Pierre Page and he used a very aggressive PK that they used together as assistants on the Flames. So I wanted to compare their ideas. Mud agreed to meet with me and we went to an empty dressing room after our over 55 morning game and I listened for an hour.

So here are the thoughts that we talked about and drew on the coaching board.

Penalty Killing:

Murdoch has gone away from the ultra aggressive penalty kill rotation that Pierre uses with the Red Bulls. He thinks it works great if all 4 players move together every time but if they donâ€™t rotate or over rotate then it leave players open in scoring positions.

Scoring area (diagram in pdf)

Don't get tied up with players, you must be free to rotate. Take their stick when the puck is coming donâ€™t wrestle them.

- Don't finish checks on the pk. It takes you out of the play and you canâ€™t rotate.

- Skate in straight lines up and back and Don't Chase to the Outside.

- D should not go to the point.

- Don't rotate positions but challenge the puck and then drop back into the slot area.

- Drop back quickly so they canâ€™t pass behind you. It is the most dangerous play.

Penalty Killing Rotation vs the Umbrella and 1-3-1 (diagram in pdf)

Penalty Killing Rotation when the Puck in at the Half Boards in the umbrella, 1-3-1 or the Slot Set (diagram in pdf)